Dreamland by Nicholas Sparks

Published September 20th 2022 by Random House

5 Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I have read and loved all of Nicholas Sparks’ books. They all evoke so much emotion and this one does as well, but it is very different from any of his previous books. Dreamland is a dual narrative with the two stories not seeming to be related at all. Colby Mills had planned a career in music, but tragedy struck his family and now he is working with his aunt to run the family farm in North Carolina. He needs to take a break, so accepts a job playing in a bar in St. Pete’s, Florida. He plans on heading home after a few weeks. While there, he meets college girl, Morgan Lee. She has just graduated from a prestigious music program and is the daughter of wealthy doctors in Chicago. They have much in common, and embark on a whirlwind romance. The second storyline is about Beverly and her six-year-old sons. They are fleeing an abusive husband and father and are struggling to make ends meet. They are living in a small town and she is quickly running out of money. She is worried that her husband, who works for Homeland Security is going to track them down. When I started to read it, I actually went back to see if I missed something, then just went with it. I knew it would all come together eventually and when they do, Wow.

I am not going to say anymore about the story or the characters because this is one that you need to experience yourself. All I will say is that the romance is sweet, and I loved how Morgan and Colby connected over music. They both took chances in the relationship and I wanted them to somehow work it all out. Beverly’s story is tragic and sad and the ending had me in tears. Once again, Nicholas Sparks has written an extremely emotional and poignant story. One with issues and themes that are realistic and relatable. I recommend you pick this one up and just go with it.

About the Book: Colby Mills once felt destined for a musical career, until tragedy grounded his aspirations. Now the head of a small family farm in North Carolina, he spontaneously takes a gig playing at a bar in St. Pete Beach, Florida, seeking a rare break from his duties at home.

But when he meets Morgan Lee, his world is turned upside-down, making him wonder if the responsibilities he has shouldered need dictate his life forever. The daughter of affluent Chicago doctors, Morgan has graduated from a prestigious college music program with the ambition to move to Nashville and become a star. Romantically and musically, she and Colby complete each other in a way that neither has ever known.

While they are falling headlong in love, Beverly is on a heart-pounding journey of another kind. Fleeing an abusive husband with her six-year-old son, she is trying to piece together a life for them in a small town far off the beaten track. With money running out and danger seemingly around every corner, she makes a desperate decision that will rewrite everything she knows to be true.

In the course of a single unforgettable week, two young people will navigate the exhilarating heights and heartbreak of first love. Hundreds of miles away, Beverly will put her love for her young son to the test. And fate will draw all three people together in a web of life-altering connections . . . forcing each to wonder whether the dream of a better life can ever survive the weight of the past.